Crash Course: World History — Season 1, Episode 19: Venice and the Ottoman Empire: Crash Course World History #19

Episode synopsis

John Green discusses the strange and mutually beneficial relationship between a republic, the city-state of Venice, and an Empire, the Ottomans--and how studying history can help you to be a better boyfriend/girlfriend. Together, the Ottoman Empire and Venice grew wealthy by facilitating trade: The Venetians had ships and nautical expertise; the Ottomans had access to many of the most valuable goods in the world, especially pepper and grain. Working together across cultural and religious divides, they both become very rich, and the Ottomans became one of the most powerful political entities in the world. We also discuss how economic realities can overcome religious and political differences (in this case between Muslims and Christians), the doges of Venice, the sultans of the Ottoman empire, the janissaries, and the so-called slave aristocracy of the Ottoman Empire, and how money and knowledge from the Islamic world helped fuel and fund the European Renaissance.

About Crash Course: World History

Crash Course World History is a video course hosted by John Green that teaches world history from growing the first crops in the First Agricultural Revolution to global textile production in the 2010s. Across the series, it builds skills in identifying and explaining historical developments, analyzing events in broader context, and tracing patterns and connections across time and place—aiming to help viewers become more informed citizens of the world. Season 1 follows the 2012 AP World History curriculum in a 42-episode chronological survey, while Season 2 continues in 30 episodes with a more thematic approach that focuses on systems and encourages viewers to question how “history” is written and what biases shape it.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Agricultural Revolution: Crash Course World History #1
• E2Indus Valley Civilization: Crash Course World History #2
• E3Mesopotamia: Crash Course World History #3
• E4Ancient Egypt: Crash Course World History #4
• E5The Persians & Greeks: Crash Course World History #5
• E6Buddha and Ashoka: Crash Course World History #6
• E72,000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confucius: World History #7
• E8Alexander the Great: Crash Course World History #8
• E9The Silk Road and Ancient Trade: Crash Course World History #9
• E10The Roman Empire. Or Republic. Or...Which Was It?: Crash Course World History #10
• E11Christianity from Judaism to Constantine: Crash Course World History #11
• E12Fall of The Roman Empire...in the 15th Century: Crash Course World History #12